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GoodRx Guide

COVID-19

Comprehensive information for you or a loved one — including treatment options and discounts on popular medications.
Sophie Vergnaud, MDKerry R. McGee, MD, FAAP
Updated on March 1, 2024

Definition

COVID-19 stands for “coronavirus disease of 2019.” COVID is the disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The World Health Organization (WHO) named the disease on February 11, 2020. Before this, SARS-CoV-2 had not been seen in humans. 

The first human cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections appeared in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. Healthcare workers noticed a new pattern of symptoms, including fever, body aches, and difficulty breathing.

The virus is highly contagious, and since then has spread worldwide. In March 2020, the WHO classified it as a global pandemic, with many new and continually emerging variants (such as Omicron).

In May 2023, the WHO declared the end of the global Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID. On May 11, 2023, the PHE also ended in the U.S. But COVID hasn’t gone away. COVID may no longer be an emergency, but it’s still a public health priority.

Transmission

The virus that causes COVID is highly contagious. It spreads from person to person in a way similar to how the flu or common cold spreads — through airborne droplets of saliva or mucus that contain the virus. This means that the virus can spread in the following ways:  

  • When someone breathes in droplets that contain the virus (which come from an infected person nearby who is coughing, sneezing, or even just breathing)

  • When virus-containing droplets come into contact with mucous membranes (eyes, nose, lips, or mouth)

  • When a person has infected droplets on their hands, and then touches their nose, mouth, or eyes  

Your chances of catching the virus goes up the longer and closer you're around someone who has COVID infection. 

This virus also spreads quickly because people can spread it before they develop symptoms. That means isolating people who are sick is only partially effective at stopping the spread. This is especially true since some people get no symptoms at all — and they can still spread the virus.

Symptoms

People with COVID infection can experience a wide range of symptoms, from mild cold-like congestion to severe illness. According to the CDC, you may be infected with the virus that causes COVID if you have:

Symptoms can start as early as 2 days after a person is infected with the virus, or they can take as long as 14 days to show up. On average, symptoms start 2 to 3 days after exposure. The incubation window — the period between exposure and the start of symptoms — seems to be getting slightly shorter with each new COVID strain. 

People who get infected with COVID can experience anything from no symptoms to mild symptoms and severe illness requiring intensive-care treatment and ventilation. And as we know, some cases of COVID can even cause death. 

In as many as 1 in 3 adults with a previous COVID infection, symptoms of COVID can linger and can cause long-term COVID symptoms, called “long COVID” or long-haul COVID. You don’t have to have had a severe COVID illness — or any symptoms at all — to get long COVID.

Diagnosis

There are two categories of tests for COVID:

  • Viral or diagnostic tests: These test for active (current) infection. There are two types of viral tests — molecular and antigen. A molecular test, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), looks for viral genetic material. Antigen tests (usually rapid tests) look for viral surface proteins. Rapid tests were common at drive-thru locations but are now available for at-home testing.

  • Antibody (blood) test: This checks for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, as a sign of recent or past infection. This test can’t diagnose a current infection.

Here’s when to get tested for COVID:

  • If you have symptoms of COVID, test right away — even if you're fully vaccinated or have had COVID before. If your antigen test is negative, test again after 48 hours.

  • If you have been in close contact with a person who has confirmed COVID infection, test at least 5 days after that exposure.

Early on in the pandemic, people had symptoms around the same time as they had high levels of the virus. But now research shows that viral loads can peak 3 to 5 days after symptoms start. And this means that a COVID test may not detect the virus until later in your illness. So, when in doubt, consider repeat testing.

Treatments

There’s currently no cure for COVID. If you’re generally healthy and have a mild illness, the treatment is to self-isolate at home and rest until you get better.  

There are now treatments for people with mild-moderate COVID infection who are at high risk for severe disease. The most effective and popular treatment is Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir / ritonavir), a pill that you can find at a local pharmacy, urgent care, or medical center. It’s approved for use in adults and authorized for certain children ages 12 and older.

If Paxlovid is not available or appropriate, second-choice options are:  

  • Lagevrio (molnupiravir): This pill is authorized for use in adults.

  • Veklury (remdesivir): This infusion is approved for people ages 28 days and older. It’s given into your vein in a medical setting. 

If you have a more severe illness, you might need to stay in the hospital. Treatment for severe COVID mostly involves supporting your body while you try to fight the infection. Some examples of these treatments are:

  • Oxygen, if your oxygen levels are low

  • IV (intravenous) fluids, if you are dehydrated

  • Intubation (a tube placed down your windpipe and into your lungs), which lets you connect to a mechanical ventilator (a life-support machine)

  • Medications, like remdesivir, dexamethasone, tocilizumab, and baricitinib 

Stay up to date with the latest news on treatments.

Vaccine

The best way to protect yourself from COVID is to get vaccinated. Time and data have shown that it’s both safe and effective at preventing serious illness. Vaccination can make you less likely to spread COVID to others if you get sick. And vaccination may also prevent long COVID.  

The latest recommendations for the 2023-2024 COVID vaccine is that everyone ages 6 months and older should receive an updated Pfizer, Novovax, or Moderna vaccine. The timing and number of doses depends on your age and vaccination history. 

 Common side effects from the vaccine include:

  • Arm soreness

  • Body aches

  • Fatigue

  • Headache

  • Nausea

  • Chills

  • Mild fever

These symptoms are typically mild and resolve on their own in 1 to 2 days.

The CDC recommends the vaccine for anyone 6 months of age and older, even if you have been previously infected with COVID. This includes pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Stay up to date with recent updates on COVID vaccines.

Prevention

Even if you’re vaccinated, it’s still important to follow safety guidelines to keep you and your community safe:

  • Clean your hands frequently

  • Avoid touching your face (especially your eyes, nose, and mouth).

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

  • Stay home and get tested if you are sick. 

  • Improve ventilation indoors.  

  • Avoid crowded, indoor gatherings.

The measures are especially important for people who are not fully vaccinated or who have a weakened immune system.

Frequently asked questions  

How is SARS-CoV-2 different from other coronaviruses?

There are seven identified coronaviruses that cause disease in humans.

Four coronaviruses cause symptoms of the “common cold” in humans. Three human coronaviruses cause more serious infections: 

  • MERS-CoV (responsible for the Middle East respiratory syndrome of 2012, or MERS)

  • SARS-CoV (responsible for the severe acute respiratory syndrome of 2002, or SARS)

  • SARS-CoV-2 (responsible for COVID)

Why is the coronavirus so contagious?

The virus that causes COVID is more contagious than other viruses for a few reasons:

  • At the start of the pandemic, the virus was new to humans. This means that we didn’t have any immunity against it. As a result, the virus easily infected humans. 

  • Even now, the virus continues to evolve. Certain mutations allow it to evade immunity and spread more easily

  • COVID spreads through airborne droplets. When an infected person talks, sneezes, or coughs, droplets are spread into the air. This means that you don’t need to be in direct physical contact with someone to catch the virus. You can catch it just by being near them. 

  • An infected person becomes contagious before their symptoms begin. And some people never develop symptoms. This increases the number of infected people who are out and about, potentially spreading the virus.

When should you see a doctor if you have COVID?

Most people with COVID will have mild symptoms and recover well at home. Some people will need to see a provider for their symptoms.  

Contact your provider if you feel your symptoms are getting worse or are no longer mild. If you feel your symptoms are severe, go to an emergency room or call 911. Severe symptoms that need medical attention include:

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Chest pain

  • Confusion or excessive sleepiness

  • Loss of consciousness

What is the recovery time for COVID?

Your recovery time depends on the severity of your infection, your age, and your underlying health. Most people can expect to recover within a few days to weeks.

In severe cases and in those with other medical issues, recovery can take several weeks to months.

Some people, and not just those with severe disease, can develop longer-term symptoms even after the infection is gone.  

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Human coronavirus types.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). How COVID-19 spreads.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Interim guidelines for COVID-19 antibody testing.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Symptoms.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). About COVID-19.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Basics of COVID-19.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). CDC museum COVID-19 timeline.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). COVID-19 testing: What you need to know.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). COVID-19 vaccines while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). How to protect yourself & others.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Isolation and precautions for people with COVID-19.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.

Cooney, E. (2022). Estimates of long Covid are startlingly high. Here’s how to understand them. Stat News.

Ferretti, L., et al. (2024). Digital measurement of SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk from 7 million contacts. Nature.

Frediani, J. K., et al. (2023). The new normal: Delayed peak SARS-CoV-2 viral loads relative to symptom onset and implications for COVID-19 testing programs. Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Logue J. K., et al. (2021). Sequelae in adults at 6 months after COVID-19 infection. JAMA Network Open.

National Institutes of Health. (2023). Therapeutic management of hospitalized adults with COVID-19.

National Institutes of Health. (2023). Therapeutic management of non hospitalized adults with COVID-19.

Ogata T., et al. (2023). SARS-CoV-2 incubation period during the Omicron BA.5–dominant period in Japan. Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Scudellari, M. (2022). Omicron’s surprising anatomy explains why it is wildly contagious. Scientific American.

Tenforde, M. W., et al. (2022). Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines against COVID-19 among hospitalized adults aged ≥65 years — United States, January–March 2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Timeline: WHO’s COVID-19 response.

World Health Organization. (2021). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): How is it transmitted?

Wu, Y., et al. (2022). Incubation period of COVID-19 caused by unique SARS-CoV-2 strains. JAMA Network Open.

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